Tratamiento quirúrgico de la apendicitis aguda durante la pandemia: el daño colateral del COVID-19 / Surgical treatment of acute appendicitis in pandemic: COVID -19 collateral damage

RESUMEN

RESUMEN Antecedentes la pandemia por COVID-19 generó cambios en el manejo de pacientes con todo tipo de patologías. Mostramos la experiencia respecto de los pacientes con apendicitis aguda (AA) operados en un hospital universitario de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires durante los meses de confina miento y su comparación con el mismo período del año 2019 a fin de evaluar las diferencias. Material y métodos: se analizó en forma retrospectiva una base confeccionada de forma prospectiva. Se compararon pacientes operados de AA, consignando los datos respecto del período preoperatorio, comparando datos inherentes a la cirugía y sus resultados en los períodos marzo-julio de 2019 y 2020. Resultados: fueron incluidos 127 pacientes, 46 de ellos operados durante la pandemia. Los pacientes operados durante la pandemia presentaron mayor incidencia de peritonitis (61,7% vs. 76,1%; p 0,09) y mayor requerimiento de drenaje abdominal (9,9% vs. 23,9%; p 0,03). También tuvieron mayor in cidencia de complicaciones (10,9 vs. 4,9%; p 0,21), reoperaciones (8,7 vs. 1,23%, p 0,03), reinterna ciones (6,5 vs. 0%, p 0,02) y requerimiento de antibioticoterapia endovenosa prolongada (6,5 vs. 0%; p 0,02). La estadía hospitalaria fue mayor para la cohorte operada durante la pandemia 3,24 días (Desvío estándar [D.E.] 7,31) vs. 1,89 días (D.E 2,04). Conclusiones: durante la pandemia por COVID-19, el número de pacientes operados por AA disminuyó con respecto al año 2019; se observaron estadios más avanzados de la enfermedad, mayores compli caciones en el posoperatorio y mayor estadía hospitalaria.

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT Background: COVID-19 pandemic has generated changes regarding the management of patients with all kind of pathologies. Here we show the experience concerning the surgical treatment of acute appendicitis (AA) in a teaching hospital in the city of Buenos Aires during the lockdown, and its comparison with the same period of 2019 in order to assess the differences between the timing for consultation, intraoperative findings and the treatment outcome. Material and methods: A prospective database was retrospectively analyzed. We compared patients undergoing surgical treatment for AA in March-July of 2019 v. March-July 2020, taking into account the preoperative period and comparing the outcome regarding the surgical intervention and the impact in the postoperative period between the two groups. Results: 127 patients were included, 46 treated during the pandemic. Patients undergoing surgical treatment during the pandemic had a higher incidence of peritonitis (61.7% vs. 76.1%; p = 0.09) and higher requirement of abdominal drainage (9.9% vs. 23.9%; p = 0.03). There was an increase in the incidence of complications (10.9 vs. 4.9%; p 0.21), reoperations (8.7 vs. 1.23%, p 0.03), readmissions (6.5 vs. 0%, p 0.02) and need for out-patient intravenous antibiotics (6.5 vs. 0%; p 0.02). The average hospital length was of 1.89 (SD 2.04) and 3.24 (SD 7.31) for the groups operated before and during pandemic, respectively. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of patients undergoing surgical intervention because of AA decreased compared to the previous year, with increased complications in the postoperative period, higher compromise of the appendix, and longer hospital stay.